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Don’t Believe in Jesus’ Virgin Birth? Not a Problem, says Andy Stanley
Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | December 27, 2016 | Jim Galloway

Posted on 12/27/2016 1:47:04 PM PST by Cecily

December has apparently proven to be an interesting month for the Rev. Andy Stanley, son of a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and lead pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta — one of the largest congregations in the country.

Though it is only now breaking in to the open, the Baptist world has been rocked by a Dec. 4 sermon in which the son of famed TV evangelist Charles Stanley discounted the importance of believing in the virgin birth of Jesus.

(Excerpt) Read more at politics.blog.ajc.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Theology
KEYWORDS: andystanley; virginbirth; ybpdln
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Andy is quoted is saying that people are taking portions of his sermons out of context. Why doesn't he stop opening the door to misinterpretation of his remarks, then?
1 posted on 12/27/2016 1:47:04 PM PST by Cecily
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To: Cecily

My son and DIL (and kids) go to this church. It is a mess. A total mess. I’ve visited and besides the music being so loud it is causing permanent hearing damage to the “audience”, the sermons are a joke.


2 posted on 12/27/2016 1:51:12 PM PST by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: Cecily

His father must be (should be) embarrassed.


3 posted on 12/27/2016 1:51:54 PM PST by Baldwin77 (They hated Reagan too ! TRUMP TOUGH - AMERICA STRONG)
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To: Cecily

The virginity of our Blessed Lady was defined under anathema in the third canon of the Lateran Council held in the time of Pope Martin I, A.D. 649. The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, as recited in the Mass, expresses belief in Christ “incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary”; the Apostles’ Creed professes that Jesus Christ “was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”; the older form of the same creed uses the expression: “born of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary”.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15448a.htm


4 posted on 12/27/2016 1:53:31 PM PST by VitacoreVision
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To: VitacoreVision

IMHO, if the creeds (aside from a capital letter here and there) are not believed whether one is Protestant or Catholic, then one is not a Christian.

Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ encompasses several other basics.


5 posted on 12/27/2016 1:59:27 PM PST by madison10 (Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!)
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To: Baldwin77; Cecily
IIRC, Andy had a similar incident earlier this year where he was using the same "taken out of context" defense.

Cecily, I tried Andy's "leadership" podcast. Lot of words, not much leadership, not much gospel. I guess I'm just cut of a different mold - I don't get guys like Andy. I enjoy his father's work....somebody on FR said they knew folks who wrote/edited Charles' books.

6 posted on 12/27/2016 2:02:01 PM PST by HonkyTonkMan
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To: Baldwin77
Thank heavens Charles Stanley, like Ronald Reagan, aren't held to the same low standards of (all) their (children) sons!

This example by Andy is yet another reason God has no grandchildren, only children!

Thankfully, no one gets to heaven on the basis of what their father and/or mother believe (dittos their kids!)

7 posted on 12/27/2016 2:15:19 PM PST by zerosix ( Native Sunflower)
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To: Cecily

Sure, Andy. No problem.

The road to perdition is wide. Anything goes. Room enough for you and all of those who are naïve enough to follow you.

Just remember to close your eyes, stop up your ears with your fingers, and sing LA! LA! LA! really loud to keep out the truth.

/s


8 posted on 12/27/2016 2:27:34 PM PST by TruthInThoughtWordAndDeed (Yahuah Yahusha)
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To: zerosix
Thank heavens Charles Stanley, like Ronald Reagan, aren't held to the same low standards of (all) their (children) sons!

Chas. Stanley is the minister I've watched on TV, and admired.
This is his son?

9 posted on 12/27/2016 2:38:48 PM PST by Vinnie
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To: Cecily

The devil is at work here.


10 posted on 12/27/2016 2:58:23 PM PST by exPBRrat
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To: Vinnie

Unfortunately, it is.


11 posted on 12/27/2016 3:03:07 PM PST by zerosix ( Native Sunflower)
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To: Cecily

Andy is just plain stupid


12 posted on 12/27/2016 3:06:04 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Baldwin77

The Great Chuch of the Mega Mall


13 posted on 12/27/2016 3:07:00 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Vinnie

Oh yeah


14 posted on 12/27/2016 3:08:38 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Cecily

I’m just a backwoods evangelical Christian of the Restoration Movement (Stone/Campbell), and if somebody tells me they don’t believe in the Virgin Birth, I’m going to wonder why they believe anything else that Christians believe. If God didn’t supernaturally impregnate Mary, the rest is suspect, too. It all stands or falls together, and I say, it stands.


15 posted on 12/27/2016 3:18:06 PM PST by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; I celebrated; I'm good. Let's get on with the civil war now.)
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To: Cecily

Is Christ not the Christ whether or not Yeshua was born of a virgin, or not? What central tenant of believing in Yeshua as the Christ, and in believing Christ, is violated by not believing He was born of a virgin?

I have always believed G-d does not require I adopt conviction in answers to some questions. That it is O.K. to be an agnostic on some answers, believing that in the fullness of time G-d will make answers to many questions known to all, without judgement for waiting for G-d. I think it is better to believe in G-d, and that man does not have perfect answers to many things.


16 posted on 12/27/2016 3:23:12 PM PST by Wuli
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To: Cecily

[[Though it is only now breaking in to the open, the Baptist world has been rocked by a Dec. 4 sermon in which the son of famed TV evangelist Charles Stanley discounted the importance of believing in the virgin birth of Jesus. ]]

My baptists world hasn’t been rocked- it seems the only ones rocked are those looking to add fuel to a controversy that is meaningless- Andy preaches another gospel- it has long been known- His father preaches God’s word- Sadly Andy is drawing many people into an empty religion where practically anything goes- He tickles the ears of those who don’t like having to be accountable for their actions-

I’m not even sure Andy is Saved- some of the things he preaches are so contrary to God’s word that I find it hard to believe he ever accepted Christ- IF he did, then he is seriously misguided- and he is in danger of leading many astray- thinking they are saved- when they aren’t- what they are instead is ‘religious’ (in their minds)- there’s a big difference

Most baptists know Andy is preaching something other than God’s word- We’re not ‘taken by surprise’ over anything he says- There are many false teachers in the world- and it’s looking more and more like Andy may be one- It is just our hope and prayer that he doesn’t take too many people down with him


17 posted on 12/27/2016 3:24:46 PM PST by Bob434
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To: Bob434

The third and last of the Great Ecumenical Creeds is the Athanasian. It sets forth the catholic (i.e. universal, global, Christian) faith. It is held to and confessed by all faithful Catholics, Lutherans, and Anglicans. The last sentence of which should be looked at very carefully by Mr. Stanley. It is used as the confession of my home congregation every Trinity Sunday.

Athanasian Creed

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood into God. One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.


18 posted on 12/27/2016 3:34:49 PM PST by Belteshazzar (We are not justified by our works but by faith - De Jacob et vita beata 2 +Ambrose of Milan)
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To: Wuli
What central tenant of believing in Yeshua as the Christ, and in believing Christ

That Jesus was fully man (receiving human nature from his mother) and fully God.

19 posted on 12/27/2016 3:37:14 PM PST by TexasKamaAina
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To: Nifster

Twenty years ago, Andy was a great preacher. What happened? Did he turn Democrat too?


20 posted on 12/27/2016 3:43:29 PM PST by Theodore R. (Let's not squander the golden opportunity of 2017.)
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